Change is a part of life that we all experience during our lifetime. Whether it’s the passing of a loved one or starting a new position in your career, one of the few consistencies in life is that you will experience change. Change is constant, so we usually don’t notice the little or the expected changes; it’s when you are caught off-guard that you can get discombobulated. Albeit, while some individuals will encounter change more frequently than others in their lifetime, it’s always beneficial to have a few “survival skills” for adapting to it when it does occur. Here are the practices that I follow whenever I experience any type of change, from something small such as pumping the brakes to enjoy the beauty of life more; to more substantial changes such as moving into a new home or having a child:

• Change Must Come From the Inside First: As difficult as it can be sometimes, especially considering the circumstances of the change you’re presented with, you have to find that part inside of you that’s willing to accept the inevitable life transformation. It takes days, weeks, sometimes even years before you can wholeheartedly know that you’ve accepted the change inside, however, you’ll know when the time has come and that you’ve accepted the change.
• Have a Glass Half Full Outlook: It will take a magnitude of patience and a foreword-thinking mindset; however, a glass half full outlook is a game changer whenever you’re going through any type of change. I’ve been utilizing the practice right now as my family begins the process of moving from our first home into a house that we believe to be our, “dream house.” It will be emotional to say the least moving out of our first home, nevertheless, I’ve benefited from employing the glass half full outlook. I’ve thought about the holiday family gatherings at our new home that weren’t necessarily feasible at our first house and the convenience having more space will garner us once baby number two is here.
• Remember to Focus on Making Small Improvements Daily: As much as we want it to sometimes, it’s imperative to remember that nothing happens overnight. When you’re going through change, reminding yourself to focus on making small improvements on a daily basis is an instrumental and sufficient practice. Instead of doing whatever is necessary to put the change in your rearview mirror, embrace this life transition and the opportunity to grow mentally, emotionally, occupationally, physically, or whichever wellness state the change will naturally affect the most.
• Never Forget the Value of Having a Strong Support System: Family and friends are going to be your biggest supporters during this time of uncertainty. Through it all, family and friends have been the one constant as you’ve maneuvered through the unpredictable ups and downs of life and you can always rely on them to welcome you with open arms, in addition to objective and concrete advice.

Keep me in your thoughts over the next few weeks as I navigate the ups and downs of moving. As most individuals who know me comprehend, I’m a fairly sentimental and emotional individual when it comes to these type of situations. It’s going to be sentimental saying goodbye to our first home, because, in a way, it feels as if we’re saying goodbye to a part of our lives that we’ll never get back again. It will be difficult to say the least; but I know that if I follow these survival skills I will be just fine in the end.

Thanks for reading!

— Chris